Gooey, sticky and colourful, is it any wonder children are mesmerised by slime? The substance provides hours of endless fun but can easily lead to a laundry disaster.

If you need to know how to get slime out of clothing, or if you want to prepare for this scenario, we have all the advice you'll need. Today we're covering some essential slime removal tips, including recommended cleaning products, tips on how to prevent slime stains and a great cleaning solution that's already sitting in your kitchen.

Who says slime has to be messy?

How to get slime out of clothes

1. Set-up a cleaning station

Slime can easily transfer to other fabrics and surfaces, so it’s a good idea to find a robust surface to work on. You don’t want to add to your list of slime stains! Not only that, but the products you use to clean the slime can also leave their mark.

We'd recommend working near or in your kitchen sink, on a kitchen counter or outside. Lay down newspaper or old towels to protect your worktops.

2. Remove as much slime as you can

Peel off as much as you can.

If you find slime on clothes, don't panic! The best thing to do before you clean any slime stains is to remove as much slime as possible. You should be able to pick off parts of the slime by hand but, if the slime has hardened, this might be a bit more difficult. Spend a few minutes working at the slime before moving on to the next step.

3. How to remove slime from clothes with vinegar / How to treat slime stains with vinegar

White vinegar is perfect for both old and new slime stains so, if you've not tried anything else yet, we'd suggest starting with this method.

Apply white vinegar directly to the stain (you can use a measuring jug to make this easier). You only need to target the stain, so don't drench the whole garment.

Leave the vinegar to soak on the stain for a few minutes.

Gently scrub the stain with a clean toothbrush or soft scrubbing brush. Use gentle motions to avoid damaging the fabric.

For more delicate fabrics, blot the garment with a cleaning cloth or paper towel. You can also do a patch test on the reverse of the fabric.

Rinse the garment with warm water to remove the vinegar and any remaining slime residue.

If the slime has gone, put your clothes in the washing machine and follow the care instructions on the washing label. If slime remains, repeat the steps a few times.

WARNING: White vinegar is a great stain remover, but it can damage hardwood floors, laptops, tablets and phone screens.

4. How to remove slime stains with washing up liquid

Another way to get slime out of clothes is to use washing up liquid. Simply follow our steps for removing slime with vinegar, but use washing-up liquid instead.

5. How to remove slime stains with acetone

Try acetone-based nail polish remover.

For slime that has been made with glue, acetone (found in some nail varnish removers) might work well. Persil recommends using acetone with cotton wool and gently dabbing the stain. Once you have removed the slime, you can wash the garment as normal.

WARNING: As acetone can discolour fabric, it is worth testing on a small area first.

5. How to get slime out of clothes after washing

As a rule of thumb, it’s easier to remove stains from clothing before they have reached the wash. Don't worry - we can still tell you how to remove slime from clothes after washing.

For clothing that has been washed, but not yet tumble-dried, you should follow the white vinegar method. This can remove stains that haven't come out in the wash.

6. How to remove dried up slime from clothes

Put the garment in a sandwich bag.

If you find that the slime has dried up, or that you've tumble dried the garment with the slime still stuck firmly to it, we have the answer. Follow this advice on how to get dry slime out of clothes:

Use your nails or a pair of tweezers to peel off any dried-on pieces of slime.

Take an ice cube and rub it over the stain and any remaining residue.

Alternatively, dampen the slime slightly and then place the garment in a freezer bag. Put the bag in the freezer until the slime hardens. When frozen, carefully peel the residue off.

7. Use a slime-removing product

If you've tried using vinegar, washing-up liquid and acetone to no avail, it might be worth spending some money on a more intensive cleaning product. We'd recommend:

Sticky Stuff Remover - This is available on Amazon and can be used on fabrics. It's an affordable product and will be sure to come in handy for all sorts of household tasks, like removing sticker residue and gum.

Goo Gone - This product is very similar to the Sticky Stuff Remover, but a bit more expensive.

How to make slime that’s easy to wash off clothing

If you've ever wondered why some slime makes more mess than others, it's all down to the ingredients. The trouble with shop-bought slime is that it's hard to know what's inside it.

Making your own slime is easy to do and most recipes use everyday household items like baking soda and saline solution. These simple ingredients don't contain dyes or harsh chemicals, so they are much easier to wash out of fabric. If you use one of our recipes, skip adding paint or food colouring for a fabric-safe slime.

Tips to prevent further slime stains

Protect your clothing!

We know how stressful stains can be and, while we can’t stop them from happening, we can prevent them!

To prevent mishaps:

Keep slime play in the kitchen - kids might try to sneak some slime up to their bedrooms, but it'll soon be stuck to the carpet or ceiling! By keeping it in the kitchen, any mishaps will be far easier to wipe clean.

Protect your surfaces - Slime can stain even the most hard-wearing surface, so be sure to lay down some protective coverings. You can use old newspaper or a plastic table cloth for this. Be sure to cover the floor, too.

Protect their clothes - For messy activities, make sure your child wears old clothes or a protective apron. An old men's shirt makes a great apron.

Tie hair back in a ponytail or braids to keep slime out of their strands.

Q&A

Can white vinegar stain clothes?

White vinegar is only mildly acidic, so it shouldn’t stain clothes. That said, never leave vinegar on clothing for more than 30 minutes, unless mixed in equal parts with water. It should take no more than a few minutes for white vinegar to remove slime stains.

Can I use other types of vinegar?

Red, balsamic and malt can stain fabric because of their colouring. You’re better off sticking to white vinegar that’s distilled. You can buy fairly cheap bottles in supermarkets – keep an eye out in the condiment aisle.

Is it better for me to wait for slime to dry before cleaning?

It’s always ideal for stains to be dealt with when they have just happened, and not when they have dried. If you are quick to get to a slime stain, you can blot with a damp cloth to lift off from clothing. You don’t want to rub as that can make the stain worse. If the blotting has not removed all the slime, follow our steps using vinegar.

Can my washing machine alone remove slime stains?

Probably not. Washing slime out of clothes with just your washing machine could lead to disappointment. You can try to put your slime stained clothes in your washing machine on a high setting, but this might make your clothes shrink. When a slime stain has been washed, it is more difficult to remove.

Can I remove slime stains from all fabrics using these methods?

It is always good to check care labels to make sure none of the items mentioned can cause damage. In general, white vinegar works with most fabrics and can be used to remove many different stains from oil to wine and grass.

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We hope you find these tips useful. If you know any other ways to get slime out of clothes, comment below.

Editor

Expert in finding beautiful solutions for small and rented spaces. Would happily spend the rest of my life shopping for homewares and watching Disney movies - I only wish I had Cinderella's army of mice to help me clean!

I'm very impatient when it comes to removing slime from clothes or the carpet. That's why I don't encourage slime play at home. It has to be done in the patio and the kids will be properly covered with an apron.

Wow. Never really knew about these methods of slime removal but I will definitely give it a shot this time. Problem is I throw in the stained clothes in a washing machine and most times the results aren't always too nice.

Joanne A on January 28, 2020 at 10:26 am

Hi Lucky! Yes, slime stains do need a bit more treatment than any other stain. Luckily we've got some advice for you if you've got washed in stains!